Piano



PIANO L. c. KAULKNG Filed Aug. 4, 193'? Oct. 25 was.

ITufen or a m a R w m Patented Oct. 25, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEApplication August 4,

' 2 Claim.

This invention is directed to new and useful improvements in low heightupright pianos and more particularly to such'types of pianos having anoverall height of about thirty-six inches.

5 The present trend of upright piano demand has been for such pianos ofmuch lower height than those heretofore manufactured so as to reduce theroom space necessary for such pianos. In reducing the height of thepianos the length of the strings and the height or the sounding hoardmust he reduced and the general mechanism of the piano which is operatedby the keys must be lowered. The shortening oi the strings and thereduction in size of the sounding board sacrifices quality in theresultant tone.

Heretofore, in the construction of such pianos the piano plate, which iscast as a unit, ex tends vertically in the piano and is provided at itsupper end with the tuning pins to which the strings of the piano aresecured.

The playing portion or the piano strings ere tends from the hitch-pinsat the hottom of the plate to the ii -bar, spaced somewhat below theupper end of the plate. From the v har to the tuning pin is thenon-playing portion of the piano strings which varies from. three toiive inches in length.

In reducing the general height or" the piano it is apparent that thekeyboard cannot be lowcred proportionately. it must be maintained in amore or less standard plane to facilitate the operation or playing ofthe piano.

Because of this fact the modern low upright pianos have been constructedwith. what is known in the trade as drop action. lmis means that themechanism that is actuated by pressure on the piano keys. to produce themusical tones has been lowered to extend below the keyboard tofit intothe reduced height of the piano casing.

In dropping this mechanism below the plane of the keyboard to effect theso-called drop action. the keys have been operably connected with thelower piano mechanism by means of wires or small cables. Thus when apiano key is depressed to strike a note the inner end of the key islifted and by means of a wire conheating the inner end of the key with alever, positioned below the keyboard the general piano mechanism isactuated through its various levers and springs to cause the hammer tostrike the string and produce the desired note. 7

Aside from the fact that the tone quality is sacrificed because of theshortened piano strings, this drop action is undesirable because power193?, Serial Nou 157,340

and repetition is sacrificed through the cable or wire connections.

In upright pianos of usual height there is a direct blow action betweenthe inner end of the piano key and the lever that sets in motion thevarious springs and levers to move the damper from the string, cause thehammer to strike the string, and at once leave the string by means ofthe escapement mechanism.

The primary object of this invention. is to provicle an upright plane oflow height in which the length of the piano strings is materiallygreater than those or": pianos of similar height and in which the directblow action is maintainecl thus obtaining superior tone quality and.flexibility operation.

A further object is to provide such a clan-o that will stay in. timelonger than present planes of similar size.

A still further object is to provide such a piano with a cast pianoplate adapted to receive the playing portion of the piano str ngs invertical position and. the non-playing portions sub stantial horizontalposition and secured to turn ing pins vertically positioned in the upperpor= tion of the plate.

Another object is to provide such a plate hav ing a log cast integrallywith to support the hey hottorn to prevent its sagging.

Still further objects and advantages will be apparent from the followingdetailed description.

In the drawing the figure shows a vertical cross-section View partiallybroken away or the working mechanism of a piano constructed. inaccordance with this invention.

In detail, indicates a cast metal piano plate comprising a verticalportion 2 that extends substantially the height of the piano and ahorizontally extending portion 3. Positioned through the horizontalportion 3 of the piano plate is a tuning pin 4 that extends into thetuning pin block: la that is fitted immediately under the horizontalportion. Pressure her 5 and heads 6 and l are secured to the top portion3. The V-bar 8 extends across the upper portion or the vertical surfaceofthe plate adjacent the horisontal portion. Considerably below theV-bar and cast integrally with the plate is a key bottom supporting lug9. The hammer operating mechanism is shown generally and comprises thehammer HI, damper II, and the various levers and springs which effectthe operation of the hammer and its associated members.

Inasmuch as the operating mechanism affords no part of this invention,further detailed description of it is not made.

The key bottom I2 is shown supported at its inner end by the lug 8 andfulcrumed on the key bottom i2 is the key IS, the inner end ll of whichextends beneath and is in direct contact with lever l5, so that upondepression of the outer end of key I: the usual levers and springs areset in motion to move the damper ll away from the string, cause thehammer to strike the string and release. The string i6 is shownextending vertically from hitch-pin l'l over bridge l8 parallel to thepiano plate I over the V-bar 8 and horizontally over the beads 6 and Iunderneath the pressure bar 5 and secured to the tuning pin 4. Thesounding board I 9 extends parallel to the vertical portion 2 of theplate and supports the bridge l8 that extends through the plate i. Thusit will be clearly seen that only the playing portions of the stringsare carried by the vertical portion of the plate while the non-playingportions are led over the top parallel to the horizontal portion of theplate thus diminishing the height of the plate. In this manner three tolive inches in vertical height of the piano can be saved withoutshortening the strings and without necessitating the installation of theso-called drop action mechanism.

Thus it can be clearly seen that by utilizing this invention athirty-six inch piano can be produced that will have the tone andplaying qualities of a thirty-nine or forty inch piano 0! the old type.Thus is obtained a popular small size piano without the undesirablecharacteristics of smaller sounding board, shortened strings and "dropaction.

Furthermore by placing the non-playing portions oi the piano strings atright angles to the playing portions greater friction is producedbetween the strings, the V-bar and the beads thus reducing the strainand pull on the tuning pins. In this manner the piano maintains its tunemuch longer than if there was a direct pull on the pins.

I claim:

1. An upright piano oi. about three feet in height comprising a pianoplate having a vertical portion extending substantially the height ofthe piano, a horizontal portion extending from the upper end of thevertical portion, a grand piano tuning pin block supported against theunder surface 0! said horizontal portion, tuning pins extending throughsaid horizontal portion and into the pin block, a string supportingV-bar positioned on the vertical portion of the plate in substantiallythe same plane as the horizontal portion, and strings extendingsubstantially the length of the vertical portion over the V-bar andclosely adjacent the horizontal portion to the tuning pins.

2. An upright piano of about three feet in height comprising a castmetal piano plate having a vertical portion extending substantially theheight of the piano, a horizontal portion extending from the upper endof the vertical portion, a grand piano tuning pin block secured to theunder surface of said horizontal portion, tuning pins extending throughsaid horizontal portion and into the pin block, a string supportingV-bar positioned on the vertical portion of the plate in substantiallythe same plane as the horizontal portion and strings extendingsubstantially the length of the vertical portion over the V-bar andclosely adjacent the horizontal portion to the tuning pins.

LOUIS C. KAULING.

